In my mind, theoretically, I am attracted to those things that are eternal.  I wish to live in a deep state of mindfulness, always seeing clearly and never caught by the petty things that can distract us from what is most important.  I wish to live in communion with God and have thoughts that are inclined towards peace and the welfare of others. I want my life to be a prayer, with my actions emanating from pure intentions.

Most of the time, however, I am not quite so attracted to the eternal.  My mind is often filled with ruminations about insignificant things that are bothering or worrying me.  I can be self absorbed and self centered in the way I look at things. I find myself being judgmental over things that don’t really matter.  I observe my mind filled with petty desires.  The list goes on and on…

Sometimes when I become aware of just how wrapped up I am in these insignificant things, I remind myself of this verse:

O SON OF THE SUPREME!
To the eternal I call thee, yet thou dost seek that which perisheth. What hath made thee turn away from Our desire and seek thine own?

This is one of my favorite passages, and I think it’s helpful for me to stop and ask that question: why is it that I’m preferring to be caught up in petty things instead of keeping my mind calm and centered, focused on the more eternal aspects of life?

Of course, we have to live with life’s everyday details. We have to think about what time it is, if bills have been paid, what we want for lunch, and things like that. I don’t believe this verse implies that we should ignore the world around us, or that we all have to be like monks all the time. However, I feel that for me personally, I could definitely improve the quality of what goes on in my mind and heart. It is possible to go through life’s everyday tasks and still have an attitude of appreciation and reverence.

Beyond the quality of thoughts and mindfulness throughout the day, there’s also importance to how I prioritize things. For example, would I prefer to sit and watch TV shows on the Internet for another hour, or would I prefer to set aside some time to read and meditate? Am I willing to make the time and put in the effort required to live a truly spiritual life, or would I rather just be lazy and pay lip service? Do I dedicate my life to serving humanity, or should I just focus on my own pleasure and happiness? There are many small decisions I make each day, and there are also the bigger decisions about where I am going in my life. It’s a challenge to find the right balance and always be focused on the spiritual, but I find satisfaction in the effort I make.

Here are a couple of other passages on the topic that I like:

O FRIENDS!
Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.

~ Baha’u'llah, The Hidden Words

O MY SERVANT!
Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.

~Baha’u'llah, The Hidden Words